Running-gear.



PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907.

L. H. MOGRAW. RUNNING GEAR.

APPLICATION nun 10mm. 1906.

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LEE I1. MCGRAW, OF MONTEREY, KENTUCKY.

RUNNING-GEAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1907.

Application filed November 22,1906. Serial No. 344,610.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEE H. MCGRAW, a citizen of the United States,residing at Monterey, in the county of Owen and State of Kentucky, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Running-Gear, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to running gear for vehicles being particularlydesignedfor farm wagons, the purpose being to devise a novel form ofconnection between the front bolster and front axle, whereby torsionalstrain is overcome and side wrenching obviated in a great measure whenone or the other of the wheels drops into a rut or passes over anobstacle.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means foreffecting the result, reference is to be had to the followingdescription and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a running gear embodying the invention, thefront truck being in section and a portion of the rear hound on the nearside broken away. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the uppermember of the fifth wheel showing the brackets attached thereto forsupporting the front portion of the coupling pole, or reach, uponopposite sides of the front bolster. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective Viewof the front truck, end portions of the axle being broken away. Fig. 4is a detail perspective view of the upper iron secured to the lower edgeof the front bolster. Fig. 5 is a vertical central longitudinal sectionof the front truck,

. the rear portion of the reach being broken away. Fig.

6 is a detail perspective view of the lower iron attached to the bounds,forming a part of the front truck.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The running gear illustrated is of the type in which the rear truck isadjustable to admit of varying the length of the running gear accordingto the size of the bed, or the length of poles, lumber, or the like, tobe placed directly upon the bolsters in the event of the Wagon bodybeing dispensed with.

The rear truck comprises an axle 1, bolster 2, hounds 3 and groundwheels 4:. The front ends of the hounds 3 are spaced apart a distance toreceive between them the coupling pole, or reach, 5, the same passingthrough an opening in the bolster 2. Plates 6 connect the front ends ofthe bounds 3 and embrace top and bottom sides of the reach and areprovided with openings in vertical alincment to receive a pin 7 by means'of which the rear truck is secured to the coupling pole, or reach 5, inan adjusted position, said pin passing through one of a series ofopenings formed in the reach.

The axle of the forward truck is mounted so as to turn, therebyadmitting of steering the vehicle, or running gear, properly and in thepresent instance,

the construction is such as to admit of the axle turning around freelyin either direction, whereby the running gear, or wagon, may turn in itsown length.

To give proper support to the axle and front bolster, a fifth wheel isinterposed between them, one member of the fifth wheel being firmly andsecurely attached to each part. The front axle 8 is provided with groundwheels 9 and a draft appliance is hitched thereto, the same in thepresent instance consisting of a pole, or tongue 10 side hounds 11 andmiddle hound 11. The front bolster 12 is formed intermediate of its endswith an opening through which the forward portion of the coupling pole,or reach 5, passes and upon which the front bolster is adapted to turnwhereby provision is had to admit of the front truck accommodatingitself to the condition of the road bed or surface over which therunning gear, or vehicle, is traveling, so as to overcome strain andstress incident to one or the other of'the wheels 9 either dropping intoa rut, or passing over a stone, root, or other obstruction. The forwardportion of the coupling pole, or reach 5, is made rounding and anopening in the bolster 12 provided to receive the rounded portion of thereach is made of corresponding shape. Sleeve like irons 13 and 14encircle the rounded portion of the reach, one in front of and the otherin the rear of the bolster 12.

To.the upper member 16 of the fifth wheel, front and rear archedbrackets 15 and 17 are secured, said brackets being formed respectivelywith transversely curved seats 15 and 17 adapted to receive the roundedportion of the reach. The ends of these brackets are spaced from eachother as shown, and turn upwardly as indicated at 15, 17 and boltsextend through the bolster and connect these upwardly turned ends to thelatter. Gap pieces 18 and 18 are inserted over the rounded end of thereach and are secured to the respective brackets 15 and 17 so as to formbearings in which the reach may turn about its longitudinal axis, and astrap iron 18 passes over the bolster 12 and is bolted or otherwisesecured thereto, the end portions of said strap iron being secured tothe cap pieces as clearly illustrated in the drawings. It will thus beseen that firm connection is had between the bolster 12 and the reach 5,while at the same time provision is made for turning the bolster withreference to the reach so as to adapt itself to any change in the levelof the front truck without subjecting the reach to torsional strain. Thefifth wheel also includes a lower member or wear plate 19 whichcooperates with the upper member 16, each of the members consisting of aring of like diameter mounted to turn .one upon the other. The lowermember 19 of the fifth wheel is secured to the front axle 8 and to thehounds 11 and 11, in any desired way. A king bolt 20 is located at thecenter of the fifth wheel members and is supported in irons 21 and 22,the iron 21 being secured to the bolster l2 and the iron 22 beingsecured to the middle hound 11, as best seen in Fig. 5. The said ironsand fifth wheel are so arranged that the said king bolt comes entirelyin the rear of the front axle 8, thereby obviating weakening of thesame. The upper iron 21 is formed on its upper face with a seat in whichthe lower edge of the bolster is fitted, and a circular projection 23 isformed upon its lower side and is curved to receive a draft iron 24. Theiron 21 is formed with a vertical opening through which the king bolt 20passes, and a corresponding opening is formed through the center of thecircular projection 23. The head of the king bolt 20 is confined betweenthe iron 21 and the bolster. The lower iron 22 is provided with a hook25 preferably formed integrally therewith and which receives the freeend of the draft iron 24, so as to connect said parts together.

The lower iron 22 is provided on its upper side with transverse ribs 26which embrace front and rear portions of the circular projection 23,thereby relieving the king bolt 20 of the strain incident to pulling orbacking.

The ribs 26 are curved to conform to the circumference of the projection23 so as to fit the same snugly.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. in vehicle running gear, the combination of a bolster, axle, andhounds of the forward truck, a fifth wheel between the same comprisingupper and lower members attached to the respective parts, and a draftiron connection between the bolster and hounds and adapted to turn withthe front axle and support and strengthen the king bolt and fifth wheelconnection at all positions of the said axle.

2. In vehicle running gear, the combination of a front truck comprisinga bolster, an axle and the usual fifth wheel connection, a reach passedthrough an opening of the bolster and extending forward thereof a shortdistance,

bracket irons attached to the front and rear portions of the uppermember of the fifth wheel and supporting said reach, and a strap-ironextended over the bolster and attached thereto and having its endportions overlapping the reach and secured to said front and rearbrackets.

In vehicle running gear, the combination of the bolster and axle, a kingbolt connection between said parts, an iron attached to the bolster andhaving a circular projection pendent therefrom, a complemental ironhaving connection with the axle and provided with a hook and a draftiron in engagement at one end with said hook and having its opposite endfitted to the said circular projection to turn thereon with the axle.

4. In vehicle running gear the combination of a bolster, an axle, kingbolt connection with the bolster, an iron connected to the bolster andhaving a pendent circular projection, a second iron having connectionwith the axle and provided with a hook and with projecting portionsembracing the aforesaid circular projection of the iron attached to thebolster and a draft iron in engagement at one end with the aforesaidhook and having its opposite end portion fitted to the said circularprojection.

5. in vehicle running gear, the combination of a bolster, an axle, afifth wheel having its members connected to respectively the saidbolster and axle, a king bolt connecting the bolster with the axle andout of line with the latter, a reach having its forward portion maderounding and passed through an opening of the bolster and adapted toturn therein, brackets secured to the front and rear portions of thefifth'wheel and receiving the reach and supporting the same at each sideof the bolster, cap pieces confining the reach to said brackets and astrap-iron extended from the bolster and having connection at its endswith the said brackets.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEE H. MeGRAW. [L. s.]

Witnesses V. P. HILLYARD, W. N. WoonsoN.

